The marketing efforts reach the New York and New Jersey metro area as well as Connecticut residents.It includes a new Connecticut Getaway Guide Spring/Summer 2010 distributed to one million targeted households and a heavy emphasis on expanding the reach of the State’s Official Tourism Website, CTvisit.com.

“We have worked to maximize our foundation programs run by staff and negotiated expanded partnerships in a smart and efficient manner,” said Commission on Culture & Tourism Executive Director Karen Senich.“The Commission continues to fulfill its unique mission to bring visitors to Connecticut so jobs are created to employ Connecticut residents and support their families while state and local taxes are generated to support public services essential to Connecticut tax payers.”

“Our strategy leverages consumer interest in travel deals and specials to spread their limited leisure entertainment budgets as far as possible, without traveling too far from home, and their profound use of the internet that was unheard of even a few years ago to plan their vacations,” said Randy Fiveash, director of the Commission’s tourism division.Fiveash continued, “So far it’s working with visitors to CTvisit.com up 9% and more than 78,000 requests for information from advertisers participating in the Connecticut Getaway Guide since its launch just prior to Memorial Day.”

New strategic partnerships provide innovative ways to get the job done with Madden Media, a publishing and online marketing firm specializing in tourism destination marketing, partnering with Connecticut’s tourism industry to create a new 100% advertising supported Connecticut Getaway Guideavailable in print and online and the Hartford Financial Services Group sponsoring the recently held 6th Annual Open House Day statewide event to celebrate Connecticut’s 375th Anniversary.The AAA Southern New England Motor Club and the AAA Allied Group are also providing distribution of State travel planning materials to Connecticut residents free of charge at their 15 offices throughout the state.

The Advertising Club of Connecticut, the largest professional association in the state serving advertising and marketing professions, held its annual Out-of-Home Competition with Connecticut tourism as the theme.The winning billboard design, submitted by The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, will be displayed throughout the state courtesy of Lamar and CBS Outdoor advertising.

Core programs continue with priorities including CTvisit.com daily updates to optimize traffic from search engines and a new Visit Connecticut facebook page.The hospitality services program at Connecticut Welcome Centers in Darien, Westbrook, North Stonington and West Willington provide travel planning information and brochures from attractions and lodging facilities to visitors and the state’s official toll free 888-CTvisit information line provides concierge planning services.CCT continues to work with media and journalists to publish travel stories about Connecticut.CCT is also embarking on a project to upgrade CTvisit.com.

The Economic Impact of Connecticut TourismTravelers to Connecticut spend more than $9 billion each year, generating $70 million annually in hotel occupancy taxes and $1.15 billion in state and local revenue. Travel and tourism results in 110,000 jobs – 6.5 percent of the state’s total – and generates $5.3 billion in personal income and $7.95 billion in gross state product.

About the Connecticut Commission on Culture & TourismThe Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism brings together tourism, history and the arts. Its mission is to preserve and promote Connecticut’s cultural and tourism assets in order to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of the state. The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism's offices, which include a gallery, are located at OneConstitutionPlaza, Hartford, Connecticut. The Commission's arts gallery is open to the public weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The space features changing exhibits that directly relate to the Commission’s programs across all four divisions. For more information, log on to www.cultureandtourism.org.